as in winds
an air movement that is blowing toward something (such as a ship or an airplane) as it moves forward
Stiff headwinds caused the flight to take longer than expected.
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Recent Examples of headwinds
This was due to multiple factors that countered headwinds from an adverse base effect and US tariff upheaval.
—
Swati Pandey, Bloomberg, 27 Jan. 2026
The discord surrounding the bill compounds headwinds facing the crypto industry during a rough few months that have seen prices fall significantly.
—Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
But farmers have faced major headwinds over the past year, and biofuels groups are making an aggressive push for year-round E15 access.
—Brianne Pfannenstiel, Des Moines Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Despite significant headwinds, such as restrictions on Nvidia’s most advanced GPUs, China’s core AI industry was estimated at $160–$170 billion last year.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images Serious headwinds in the housing market and the broader economy are tanking home sales at an alarming rate.
—Diana Olick, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
The Federal Reserve’s cautious position regarding rate cuts, the strength of the dollar, and high valuations all create headwinds.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
This seems to provide some anecdotal evidence that, while the global whiskey market is undoubtedly experiencing some strong headwinds, the secondary market seems to be thriving.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2026
But electric vehicles face major headwinds.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
Swati Pandey, Bloomberg, 27 Jan. 2026
The discord surrounding the bill compounds headwinds facing the crypto industry during a rough few months that have seen prices fall significantly.
—Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
But farmers have faced major headwinds over the past year, and biofuels groups are making an aggressive push for year-round E15 access.
—Brianne Pfannenstiel, Des Moines Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Despite significant headwinds, such as restrictions on Nvidia’s most advanced GPUs, China’s core AI industry was estimated at $160–$170 billion last year.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images Serious headwinds in the housing market and the broader economy are tanking home sales at an alarming rate.
—Diana Olick, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
The Federal Reserve’s cautious position regarding rate cuts, the strength of the dollar, and high valuations all create headwinds.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
This seems to provide some anecdotal evidence that, while the global whiskey market is undoubtedly experiencing some strong headwinds, the secondary market seems to be thriving.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2026
But electric vehicles face major headwinds.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headwinds
winds
Noun
-
In a December meeting, commissioners acknowledged customers’ frustrations, but added that the winds blew down hundreds of power lines onto the dry landscape.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Powerful winds from the star's disk act like a cosmic conveyor belt, propelling the crystals into the frigid outer disk, where comets may eventually form, according to a statement from NASA.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Headwinds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headwinds. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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